The stainless steel earbuds have a mirror chrome finish that is complemented by an impact-resistant polycarbonate element. They look good and are easy to use, but a magnet or retractable feature would make them more useful. Care should be taken when wearing and exercising with these earbuds, as the material is somewhat fragile and not IP rated. While it is possible, sweat will quickly erode away at the leather. Not to mention that a little moisture or bad luck can cause a short circuit. From the moment you get these beastly headphones in hand, you know that Sennheiser is about to create an even more premium take on their own little Momentum 2.0 headphones. These are seriously premium bits of kit. Dripping in metal and leather, they have weight to them and the build quality is excellent. They come in two color options, ivory and black, and if I am 100% honest, I really don’t like either. Especially when you look at that horrible mustard yellow/brown inside, they get the classy look and almost timeless HAM radio headphone style they are trying to do, but it just looks a little bland. The HD1’s are also a great choice for those who are looking for something a little more modern, but still want to get a little more out of their headphones and into the music world. Sennheiser chose a stainless steel headband wrapped in English leather for the HD1. As such, the headband is made of stainless steel and has the same luxurious stitching as the storage pouch. The primary drawback to its flashy design is comfort; the HD1 fit comfortably against my skull for longer than expected, but the lack of padding on the headband made me feel the pressure after two to three hours of continuous use. On the other hand, the ear cups are well padded, and the Sennheiser leather used for the ear cushions is soft and surprisingly comfortable. Unlike synthetic materials, the genuine leather does not get hot to the skin when worn for extended periods of time, making it more comfortable overall.
